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Category: Birth Totems

Blog posts about the birth totems that are determined by the Native American Moon that each person is born under. Everyone has an animal, mineral, and plant totem. The element and elemental clan also plays a role in the medicines we receive at birth.

We have talked in earlier posts about the Native American Totems given to us when we are born. There are specific totems that travel with us through out our lives that are associated with the Moon that we are born under. There are also what is known as Power Totems that choose us at the time of our birth. Notice I said “choose”. No matter what notions we might have about a totem that we would like to work with the Nine Power Totems or Spirit Guides chose us at our birth.

We might not acknowledge the existence of these totems or even be aware of them but they are there determining our own abilities, our talents, and our challenges. We are surrounded by seven directions: East, South, West, North, Above, Below, and Within. The additional two are not a direction per se, but are walking on either side of us at all times.

So today, let us explore the messages that the Nine Power Totems give us in our walk on Mother Earth.

East: The animal or creature in our East guides us to our greatest spiritual challenges and also guards our path to illumination.

South: The child within us is protected by our power totem of the South. It reminds us of when to be humble and when to be trusting so that innocence will be balanced within our personality.

West: We are led to our personal truth and inner answers by the totem of our West. This totem also shows us our path to our goals.

North: Our animal of the North gives us wise council reminding us when to speak and when to listen. North animal also reminds us to be grateful for each blessing of each day.

Above: We are reminded by our Above Animal Totem to honor the Great Star Nation and that we came from the stars and will someday return to them. This power totem guards our Dreamtime.

Below: We are taught about the inner Earth and how to stay grounded on our path by our Below Totem.

Within: Our animal or creature totem of Within shows us how to find our inner joy and to be faithful to our personal truths. Our sacred space is protected by this Spirit Guide.

Right Side: Walking with us on our right is our protector of our male side. This animal totem carries our courage and warrior spirit. It will always be our protector from within.

Left Side: Our female side has a protector too. Walking on our left side this animal teaches us about relationships and mothering along with learning to receive abundance. Left Side animal totem reminds us to nurture ourselves as well as others in our path.

With all of these totems working with us, we should never feel lonely! Tomorrow, I will share with you the Power Totems who chose me to teach on my journey here on Mother Earth. I will also share with you a way that you can find out what the Nine Power Animals are in your Native American Totems are.

Elk is the animal totem for births happening during the Long Snows Moon. The last moon of Mudjekeewis (Grizzly Bear) and the final moon of the year crosses Father Sky from November 22 to December 21. Obsidian is the mineral totem and the black spruce is the plant totem. The color totem is black. The element is fire and the people born under this moon belong to the Thunderbird Clan.

The animal totem Elk is also known as wapati and demonstrates the power of beauty, majesty, and cooperation. People with the totem of Elk are insightful, independent, fearless, determined, and open hearted. Wapati or Elk teaches people about strength, responsibility, joy, speed, agility, possessiveness, protection, regality, justice, and wisdom.

The mineral totem, Obsidian teaches people to center their being with the energy of earth and provides the protection of stability. From this mineral totem people learn their ability to perceive and mirror the thoughts and feelings of others.

Black spruce is the plant totem of the Long Snows Moon. This totem teaches how to be soft and strong at the same time. Black spruce will teach people to explore their lofty ideas, their earth connection, and their unique ways of reaching to Spirit. It can teach people about a deep inner strength that encourages softness.

The Long Snows Moon teaches people about mental strength, deep fear of emotions, relationships, teaching, and communicating. People of this moon need to guard against being too argumentative and erratic in their intimate relationships.

The animal totem Snake belongs to the Freeze Up Moon. It is the moon that glides across Father Sky between October 24 and November 21. It is the middle moon of Mudjekeewis (Grizzly Bear) the Spirit Keeper of the West. The mineral totems are copper and malachite for the Freeze Up Moon. The plant totem is the thistle. The color totem is orange. The element is Water which give the Frog clan the influence over this moon.

Copper as a totem teaches people about how to focus their energies and malachite as a totem teaches people to be more sensitive to all the energies. Copper nourishes strength, power, balance, and the ability to understand one’s energy and it discourages weakness. Malachite has spiritual powers and raises a person’s sensitivity to the voice of spirit. It increases receptivity to all forms of subtle energy and helps to cultivate one’s psychic powers.

Thistle as a totem determines healing abilities and versatility. Thistle can aid people in understanding and working with the many different levels of reality.

The snake totem teaches adaptability and the capacity to silently travel to places others might fear to go. Snake teaches people about the extent of their own energy along with their keen sight. Snake, as one’s birth totem, will teach people about mystery, the realms of creation, deep transformation, the balance of nature, adaptability, sensitivity, communication, sexuality, regeneration, patience, self-defense, justice, healing, the feminine within themselves, and their own life force.

The Freeze Up Moon is a time to learn how to travel between the different realms of creation and how to become a messenger for the spiritual aspects of life. People born under this moon should be careful to keep themselves grounded and not to become too suspicious of people.

The Ducks Fly Moon crosses Father Sky during September 23 to October 23 of any given year. It is the first moon of Mudjekeewis (Grizzly Bear) who is the Spirit Keeper of the West. The mineral totem for this moon is jasper, most particularly the bloodstone japser. The plant totem is mullein. The animal totem is the raven. The color totem is brown. The element is air with the Butterfly clan being the elemental influence.

Jasper teaches how to draw both the earth and sun energy into your being and how to understand the messages of the heart. Bloodstone jasper can bring many blessings and helps you to harmonize with the earth’s energy.

Mullein, the plant totem teaches people to explore the smooth and healing parts of their nature.

Raven, the animal totem, will teach and give understanding to the relationship of groups. It is important that people with the Raven as a totem guard against being too indecisive. Ravens are group oriented birds and it is believed that they have tribal councils. To Native American people the raven is considered a bird of balance between man and nature. Almost every tribe has a legend about Raven and why he is black. Usually the bird began as a white bird but turned black either as a punishment for a wrongdoing or due to a danger it faced trying to help man. Some believe the Raven to be an omen of bad luck while others believe it to be a good omen.

The Harvest Moon crosses the skies from August 23 to September 22. It is the last moon of Shawnodese (Coyote) the Spirit Keeper of the South. The mineral totem for this position is amethyst, the plant totem is the violet, and the animal totem is the brown bear. Purple is the color totem. Brown Bear people belong to the elemental clan of Turtle as the element is Earth.

Amethyst teaches people about good judgment and justice. The violet, plant totem, teaches about the ability to penetrate to secret regions of the heart and soul. Animal totem, brown bear, teaches the capacity for creative curiosity. The Harvest Moon totems teach about discrimination, fair decisions, good sense, perseverance, confidence, and the ability to analyze. The energy from the Harvest Moon totems is one of balance, rationality, and practicality. Brown bear people need to guard against being overly critical of others and cynical about life.

Bear will teach you lessons and give you good medicine when it comes to deliberation, pleasure, fairness, courage, strength, healing and teaching. The Brown Bear totem of birth should not be confused with Mudjekeewis (Grizzly Bear) who is the Spirit Keeper of the West Direction on the Medicine Wheel. Brown Bear totem is directed by the South Direction and Coyote (Shawnodese).

Plant totem Violet symbolizes reserved sentimentality, warmth, and quiet. Violet awakens your heart to the fullness of feelings and teaches you the depths of love.

Amethyst as your totem will help you understand your anger and it’s source allowing you to begin to release it. This mineral totem will help clarify the Dream State. Amethyst is a stone that stimulates nobility and purity within those who carry or wear it.